Fee Hike: Punjab Cabinet caps fee hike by private schools at 8%

Chandigarh, April 20: Punjab Cabinet Wednesday capped the annual fee hike by private schools at 8 per cent of the previous year’s fee. Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said that after the Cabinet nod, rules would be framed to enforce the Punjab State Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Act, 2016.

The Cabinet also gave nod to the Punjab State Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Rules, 2017, and announced that all other funds charged by schools would be covered under these rules.

Dr Payre Lal Garg, who is a member of the fee committee constituted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to look into how much fee increase was valid based on the funds available with schools in Punjab, lauded the Cabinet’s decision.

He said more than 16 lakh students enrolled with 4,000 private schools will benefit from the Cabinet’s decision.A senior government functionary said that since the regulation already existed, parents would have the right to approach the designated authorities in case fee hike was more than 8 per cent.“The move aims to curb excessive fees being charged from students in private schools across the state,” he said.